Fluid pump



Jan. 16, I1?;945.

F.' WHEATLEY, SR

FLUAID PUMP Filed Sept. l, 1943 I; Y with 2 Sheets-Sheet `l Hank IN VEN TOR.

jan. 16, 1945. F WHEATLEY, 5R 2,367,452

FLUID PUMP Filed Sept. l, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. l

Patentes Jan. is, 1s

Nlrsn STATES PATENT oFFicE- aasmsz FLUID PUMP Frank Wheatley, Safrane, Okla..- sppucation september 1, 194s, serial No. 500,765

(ci. s-1o) I 1 Claim.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in uid pumps.

The pump construction shown herein is an improvement over that disclosed in abandoned `application Serial No. 326,985, filed March 30,

cylinders double acting pistons operated from a single crank shaft. The double acting Apistons provide for maximum capacity and minimum weight. When the conventional singleacting or duplex pumps are used, spaced and ydistinct impulses are imparted to the uid being pumped. This causes the uid to surge in the pipelines, weakening and otherwise damaging joints, valves and other parts and adjuncts of the line. By operating a plurality'of pistons from the same crank shaft, a sumcient number of impulses is imparted to the huid during each revolution of the crank shaft to practically eliminate surge.

Moreover, I have grouped the cylinders in such a `way that if desired, two different uids can be pumped at diilerent volumes and under diffrent pressures.

An important object of my invention is to provide a pump having a large capacity.

Another object of my invention is-to provide a pump that is light in weight and easily maneuverable. Still another object of my invention is to provide a pump that imparts little or no surge to the huid being pumped. 'Yet another object of my invention is to provide a fluid pump that is capable of simultanethrough one of the pump pistons and its appurtenances,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a modified pump,

and

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the pump shown in Fig. 3. Referring to vthe form of the invention shown in Fig. 1,l the numeral I0 designates a crank case in which the crank shaft I I is rotatably mounted. The crank shaft is driven through the mediumof a countershaft I 2 and gears I3 and Il. Any

-suitable prime mover (not shown) can be drivingly connected to the projecting end I2a of the countershaft. Extending laterally from the crank case I0 and in horizontal alignment with the crank shaft is a plurality of cylinders I5. The cylinders -correspond in number to the cranks on shaft II and each cylinder is in alignment with its respective crank. Mounted for reciprocation in each of the cylinders I5 is a piston, I6 which is operatively connected to its respective crank by a piston rod II, crosshead I8 and connecting rod I9. From 'the foregoing it will be obvious that the countershaft I2 drives crank shaft II which in turn reciprocates the pistons I8 in cylinders I6.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, I have provided vecylinders, two of the cylinders being grouped on one side of the transmission gears and `three of the cylinders grouped on the opposite side. This unique grouping of the v-cylinders betterrbalances the power and pump thrust distributing the work load more uniformly throughout the length of the crank shaft.' The five cranks actuating pistons I6 are equally spaced 72 apart about the crank shaft so that each piston is in a different stage of operation at any selected piston of the shaft. This arrangement is largely responsible for the elimination of surge in the pipeline. Ten distinct and equally spaced impulses are imparted to the fluid for each revo- .lution of the crank shaft I I and these impulses ously pumping a. plurality of fluids in different volumes and under dierent pressures.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course ofthe following description.

. In the drawings forming a part of this specilication and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. l is a top plan view of a fluid pump eml bodying my invention, parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the internal mechanism' of the pump,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional vie' 'are so' closely spaced that wave-like surges of?- the fluid are substantially eliminated.

Each of the cylinders I5 is provided with an intake or suction manifold I9 which communicates with the fluid iniet pipe20 via aseparate Avertical branch pipe 2I. Manifolds I9 are continuously 'filled with fluid by pressure in pipe 20. Passage of fluid from each intake manifold I9 to its respective'cylinder I5 is controlled by a pair of 'valves 22 and 23 Awhich seat downwardly under the action of'springs 2|. Valve 22 opens into a passage Ila which communicates with the cylinder I5 behind piston Il and valve 2l1 opens into a passage |5b which communicates with cylinder I5 in front of the piston. Fluid from cylinder I5 is delivered lthrough passages' |5a and I5b into an exhaust manifold 25 through discharge valves 21 and 28, thence into discharge pipe 28. Both valves 21 and 28 seat downwardly and springs 29 thereabove maintain them normally closed. When piston |6 is retracting a suction is created in the portion of cylinder I5 ahead of the piston which draws discharge valve 28 downwardly against its seat and lifts inlet valve 23 against the action of springs 24 to permit fluid in the intake manifold I9 to flow into the cylinder through passage |5b. Simultaneously a zone of increased pressure is created in the portion of the cylinder I5 behind the piston which seats intake valve 22 and opens valve 21 against the action of spring 29 to permit uid in the cylinder to be discharged into the exhaust manifold 25 and thence into discharge pipe 26. The reverse action occurs when the piston IB advances in the cylinder I5. A suction iscreated behind the piston which seats valve 21 and opensy inlet valve 22 to permit uid in manifold I8 to flow` into the cylinder behind the'piston. Pres-l sure of the piston against the uid in the cylinder creates a zone of pressure ahead of the piston which seats valve 23 and opens discharge valve 28 to discharge fluid into manifold 25 and to pipe 26.

Thus each piston injects fluid into the discharge pipe 26 twice during each revolution of the' crank shaft Il. Consequently, the five pistons inject duid into the discharge pipe ten times during each revolution of the crank shaft. These ten impulses occurring at regularly spaced intervals maintain a steady flow of iiuid in the discharge pipe and substantially eliminate the damaging surges which occur when the conventional one cylinder or duplex fluid pumps are used.

By arranging the cylinders in spaced groups on opposite sides of the driving gears and placing valves 30 and 3| in the inlet and discharge pipes 2|) and 25 between the groups of cylinders there is provided a pump construction that is capable of pumping two fluids under different pressures and in different volumes while uniformly distributing the load along the crank shaft. When valves 30 and 3| are opened all nve cylinders are usedv to pump a single fluid supplied through pipe 20. However, when valves 30 and 3| are closed one uid can be delivered to the group of two cylinders through the portion of pipe 20 at one side of valve 30 and a different fluid can be delivered to the group of three cylinders through the portion of pipe 20 at the other side of valve 30. Since valve 3| is also closed the uid delivered by the group of two cylinders does not mingle with .the` uid delivered by the group of three cylinders and the two fluids flow in opposite directions through the discharge pipe. A pump of this character which can be converted to pump either one or two iiuids by the simple expedient of opening or closing a couple of valves has utility for many purposes not possessed by any other fluid pump construction within my knowledge. Y

As shown in Fig. 1 each of the cylinders I5 .is provided with a removable inner lining |50.

To assure that the fluid being pumped does not become contaminated with the lubricant in crank case I0, and to avoid contamination of the lubricant withthe pumped fluid, ahollow cylindrical crosshead barrel.32 is provided between the crank case and each cylinder I5. Also piston rods I1 passing through stufling boxes 33 and u are sufficiently long to avoid overlap of the rod into the crank case and cylinders. Openings 32a in the top of the barrels permit ready access to the stuffing boxes 33 and 3l when it is necessary to tighten the stuiiing glands or to repack the same. The barrels 32 form a sump for fluid or lubricant that leaks through the stuiilng boxes. cumulated in the barrels is drained by removing drainage plugs 32h.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 is identical with the form of the invention-hereinabove described except that three instead of live cylinders are provided.- A smaller pump of this character is adaptable for many uses although fewer impulses are imparted to the fluid during each revolution of the shaft.

In general, the object of my invention is not achieved if less than three cylinders are used, although obviously pumps having more than five cylinders can be employed if desired. The greater the number of cylinders used, the less surge occurs. However, even the simpler model shown in Fig. 3' can be used to pump either one or two fluids and since the cylinders are identical with those described in connection with the pump shown in Fig. 1, the two fluids may be pumped.

in different volumes and under different pressures. The three cylinder pump is considerably lighter in weight than the five cylinder pump and consequently possesses greater maneuverability. Further, it has a common advantage with the five cylinder pump in that it has a relatively greater capacity for its size and weight. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A cylindrical double acting pump unit comprising in combination an enclosed crank shaft having a plurality of cranks thereon and a driving gear mounted on the shaft between selected groups of the cranks, horizontally positioned cylinders corresponding in number to the crank groupings, double acting pistons in the cylinders, means comprising connecting rods, cross heads and piston rods for connecting said pistons to the crank shaft, said cylinder groupings being located on opposite sides of the driving gear to distribute the load on the crank shaft, suction and discharge manifolds connected to the respective cylinders, suction and discharge valves for controlling the fluid flow through the cylinders, a single fluid supply line for simultaneously charging the suction manifolds, a valve in the iiuid supply line between the groups of cylinders adapted to be closed so as to provide .a separate supply line for each of the groups, a single fluid discharge line and a valve in the fluid discharge line between the groups of cylinders adapted'to be closed so as to provide a separate fluid-discharge line for each of said groups.

FRANK WHEATLEY, sn.

Fluid ac- 

